AIGA presents Designtrepreneurs – a panel taking three Dallas creatives who’ve stepped outside of their comfort zones to start their own non-design related business. As designers, we have the natural propensity to come up with ideas upon ideas, for our clients and for ourselves. But most of us just haven’t worked up the cojones to go beyond just talking about ideas. What inititative does it take? Where does the motivation come from? What is it like to be your own client? We are proud to have Jason Franzen, Ben Jenkins, and Aaron Opsal join us to answer these questions and more at AIGA DFW’s first panel of the year.

Jason Franzen: Over the past twenty years, Jason has founded or partnered in a series of design-driven entrepreneurial ventures, including a pre-internet mail-order sportswear business (started in his parent’s garage), a photography agency, a brand consultancy, a game design studio and his current foray into mobile software development. Jason is currently the Chief Design Officer for [x]cube LABS, an international leader in mobile app strategy, design & development.

Aaron Opsal: Aaron Opsal is the owner and creative director of The Brand Hatchery, a full-service branding, advertising, design and interactive agency in Dallas, TX. Aaron is also the owner and creative director for Three Blind Ants, the creators of Boxsal, a modern, eco-friendly picnic box. And Aaron is also co-founder of WhatYouCan.Do, an online social fundraising platform.